WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation is facing an escalating challenge with feral horses, and efforts are being intensified to find a solution.
On August 21, Gloria Tom, the manager of Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife, organized a meeting between her department and the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture to strategize a new approach to the issue.
“This shouldn’t be political, but it is,” said Tom, highlighting the complexities surrounding the feral horse problem. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, who frequently travels across the reservation, has witnessed the growing impact of these horses firsthand and is determined to take action.
Earlier this year, in response to the increasing numbers of feral horses, President Nygren and the Natural Resources Department reinstated the equine reward program, encouraging the capture of these animals. This recent meeting was aimed at reevaluating a plan originally developed during the Russell Begaye Administration, with a focus on adapting it to the current situation.
“These horses are becoming a huge problem,” Tom stated. “The reason Fish and Wildlife is involved in this strategy is because we’re seeing a decline in our wildlife, particularly in mule deer, which hold significant cultural importance for us. The overgrazing by these horses is displacing the mule deer and degrading their habitats.”
Tom pointed out the problem is like a wave that rises and falls with each change in administration. “Some administrations take charge in addressing the problem, while others let it slide,” she said.
President Nygren echoed this sentiment, expressing his commitment to working closely with Natural Resources and other departments to find lasting solutions. “If our departments are seeing a decline in our wildlife and a disruption in our plants, this is bigger than just feral horses,” Nygren remarked.
“These horses are overpopulated, and it’s impacting us. I’m committed to continuing our work with the departments involved in this strategy so we can revitalize our land and wildlife.”
